Pergola Build 5m x 3m

J_Smotthies2021

Hi,

We are considering 5m x 3m pergola. There will be 2 swings sofa in the meeting facing each other. Can you please let me know whether below will be sufficient:

4 Posts each are 6 by 6

7 Rafters 2 by 6

50 cm concrete foundations

We will have polycarbonate to cover the roof

and where is the best place to buy pergola woods and what wood will be strong and look nice.

thanks

FreeBear

Your local independent timber merchant will be the best place to get wood. You'll want pressure treated softwood, and it will only be available rough sawn - For outside use, that will be fine. Give it a couple of coats of wood preservative before you assemble the structure.

You don't want to be setting the timber posts into concrete - They will rot at the bottom fairly quickly. Find some steel post supports, and set these into the concrete. The posts will then sit in the steel supports just off the ground.

I'll warn you now - Timber prices have gone silly in recent months, so expect to spend a fair bit more than you thought.

Rdwill

I've just replaced the top deck on mine. The legs were sound. I used 4 by 2, here's the plan based on what I took apart.

As free bear says give them a couple of coats of wood preserver  I used Barrettine which seems to be the best.

All in all I reckon this cost £220 excluding labour, the wood was £150. I do have quite a few hex wood screws left though  I bought 2 different size boxes at £20 each. 

https://www.easymerchant.co.uk/screws-nails-pins/timberfast-xt-landscape/

Pictures may be in the wrong order.

FreeBear

The base of mine..

Got scaffolding up, and the plastic is to catch debris from above.

littleboo

Rdwill said:

I've just replaced the top deck on mine. The legs were sound. I used 4 by 2, here's the plan based on what I took apart.

As free bear says give them a couple of coats of wood preserver  I used Barrettine which seems to be the best.

All in all I reckon this cost £220 excluding labour, the wood was £150. I do have quite a few hex wood screws left though  I bought 2 different size boxes at £20 each. 

https://www.easymerchant.co.uk/screws-nails-pins/timberfast-xt-landscape/

Pictures may be in the wrong order.

Do you mind me asking how 5 & 6 and attached to their respective uprights? I'm guessing that the out front uprights are set at the correct angle to present a flat face? But what about the inner front upright?

GDB2222

Why specify softwood? 

FreeBear

GDB2222 said: Why specify softwood? 

'Cos something like Oak is going to be very, very expensive.

GDB2222

FreeBear said:

GDB2222 said: Why specify softwood? 

'Cos something like Oak is going to be very, very expensive.

And, it's hard to work, but it looks great, and it lasts for ages.  It's the best wood for the job. 

Rdwill

littleboo said:

Rdwill said:

I've just replaced the top deck on mine. The legs were sound. I used 4 by 2, here's the plan based on what I took apart.

As free bear says give them a couple of coats of wood preserver  I used Barrettine which seems to be the best.

All in all I reckon this cost £220 excluding labour, the wood was £150. I do have quite a few hex wood screws left though  I bought 2 different size boxes at £20 each. 

https://www.easymerchant.co.uk/screws-nails-pins/timberfast-xt-landscape/

Pictures may be in the wrong order.

Do you mind me asking how 5 & 6 and attached to their respective uprights? I'm guessing that the out front uprights are set at the correct angle to present a flat face? But what about the inner front upright?

They are not attached to the upright, they sit over the top of 1 and 2 and 1 and 3 respectively, with notches cut in to hold them in place.

If you really zoom in on the picture you can just about see.



The 'dodgy' bit is where 2 and 3 join on to number 4. They are drilled into the face of 4 using 2 x 100mm hex screws. Those 2 connections / joints are the only 2 that are unsupported by a leg. And the only 2 I wouldn't want to hang off  the rest are supported by a leg and solid enough to easily take my 100kgs.

Rdwill

GDB2222 said:

FreeBear said:

GDB2222 said: Why specify softwood? 

'Cos something like Oak is going to be very, very expensive.

And, it's hard to work, but it looks great, and it lasts for ages.  It's the best wood for the job. 

The legs of mine are hardwood and still absolutely solid, so no need to replace which is great because that would have been a pain.  The top was softwood and completely rotten, but relatively easy to replace if you can follow a pattern.

If I was building from scratch I would consider making the legs from hardwood, if I could afford it, as once they're in they're in. Or do what freebear has done as softwood is not going to last forever.